We Speak Most About What We Love Most

One of the greatest regrets in my life is not what I said, but what I didn’t say.

My grandmother died believing she was a good person, and that being good would be enough to stand before God. She had no faith in Jesus Christ. In the week leading up to her death, I was with her. I loved her. I tried to care for her. But I never once opened my mouth to tell her about Jesus.

Why?

Because I was afraid.

Afraid of what she’d say. Afraid of what my family would say. I knew they might find it inappropriate, maybe even offensive. So I stayed quiet.

The Truth About Fear

I told myself I was protecting peace in the family. I told myself that I didn’t want to upset her in her final days. But the truth is far harder to swallow: I loved myself more than I loved her.

I wanted her to think well of me more than I wanted her to think well of Christ. I wanted my family to be pleased with me more than I wanted to see her saved. I made an idol out of their approval, and that idol silenced me. I didn’t tell her about Jesus, not because I didn’t care but because I cared about the wrong things more.

The Idol Problem Behind Evangelism

It’s not just me. I’ve noticed this pattern in countless sincere, church-going, mature believers. They know the gospel. They love Jesus. They believe in heaven and hell. Yet when it comes to evangelism, they’re silent. Why?

Over time, I came to see that it’s not usually ignorance or apathy. It’s idolatry. We all worship something, even after becoming Christians. And often, that something is a good thing turned into an ultimate thing reputation, comfort, success, family harmony, or career growth.

Romans 1:25 describes humanity’s default: “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” This isn’t just a problem for the irreligious. Even as followers of Jesus, we must constantly fight to keep our hearts aligned with what we claim to believe.

When we treat God like a divine waiter someone to serve us when needed we reduce our faith to a spiritual convenience. We touch base with Him on Sundays, pray when we’re in need, and hope He’ll deliver our best life. But that kind of faith doesn’t compel us to speak about Christ. It doesn’t fuel the courage needed to evangelize. It keeps Jesus on the margins of our daily conversations, rather than at the center of our affections.

Why We Don’t Speak

We talk about what we love.

Engaged couples can’t stop talking about their future spouse. New parents fill their conversations with stories of their child. Sports fans talk endlessly about their team’s chances. We talk about what we cherish.

So when we don’t talk about Jesus, it reveals something deeper. It exposes that He may not actually be our first love. Not really.

Instead, we want to be liked, respected, or seen as sensible. We want to avoid awkwardness. We fear conflict more than we fear God. And so, our silence isn’t just a momentary hesitation it’s a reflection of misplaced worship.

Romans 1:18 warns that God's wrath is revealed against those who “suppress the truth.” That doesn’t just describe atheists. It describes all of us, anytime we hold back the truth about Christ to preserve our idols. We don’t need more evangelism strategies. We need heart-level transformation.

Replacing Idols With Jesus

The good news is that the gospel doesn’t just confront our idols it replaces them. Jesus doesn’t crush our desire for love, approval, purpose, or security. He fulfills them. And only when our hearts are full of Christ will our mouths speak freely about Him.

If we want to speak of Jesus, we must first truly love Jesus.

Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle that love in your heart. Ask Him to expose the idols you’ve protected. Confess the things you love more than Christ. And ask for a deeper affection for the only One worthy of your worship.

When Jesus becomes your treasure, speaking of Him will become natural. You won’t just talk about church or prayer or spirituality. You’ll talk about Him — His cross, His mercy, His grace. And the people around you won’t just hear your voice. They’ll hear about a Savior who speaks even to the fearful and the silent.

Start Today

Think of someone in your life who doesn’t yet know Jesus. Maybe a coworker, a neighbor, or even a family member. Ask yourself honestly: What has stopped me from speaking to them? Is it fear? Pride? Comfort?

Then ask God for help. Not just for courage, but for love — love for Christ that eclipses your fear of rejection, and love for them that outweighs your need to be liked.

Because we really do talk about what we love. Let’s make sure we’re talking about the One who loved us first.

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